Vaquita porpoise threatened by Colorado River

A researcher said recently the Vaquita porpoise has been threatened by the lack of fresh water from the Colorado River that mixes with sea water of the Sea of Cortes.

Manuel Salvador Galindo, an investigator of the Autonomous University of Baja California, denied the species has been under threat of extinction by fishermen, but because fresh water has stopped entering the Gulf of California.

The researcher told La Voz newspaper Vaquita porpoise is not the only species that has disappear from the area as a consequence of climate change.

According to Galindo, salinity has increased in the Gulf as fresh water has been used by cities.

He said the Vaquita porpoise is not a sea animal, but an estuarine one, meaning it lives where sea and fresh water mix. “This is a mistaken assumption researchers have incurred in, especially the International Committee to Recover Vaquita Porpoise, who have shown their lack of knowledge of geography,” he said. According to the researcher that was the reason the baby Vaquita captured months ago died in captivity.

Galindo, who is an investigator with UABC Institute of Oceanographic Research, said Mexico’s policy on fishing ban has caused the crisis in San Felipe.

The researcher proposed to send treated water from Las Arenitas plant — that has been used for other environmental purposes — to the upper area of the Sea of Cortes to save the Vaquita porpoise.